Container means for a radioactive element

ABSTRACT

A storage container for a radioactive element, including a housing having a central compartment arranged between a pair of end compartments, said central compartment being adapted to interchangeably receive one of a plurality of different sized shielding bodies into which a radioactive element is protectively stored. The storage body is supported within a tubular housing the opposite ends of which are mounted in corresponding counterbored recesses contained in the end walls of the central compartment.

United St Inventor Daniel Lecuyer Le Pecq, France Appl No. 745,211 Filed July 16, 1968 Patented Feb. 2, 1971 Assignee Societe A.G.S., Societe Anonyme Paris, France CONTAINER MEANS FOR A RADIOACTIVE ELEMENT 7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 250/108, 250/ 1 06 Int. Cl G211" 5/00 Field of Search 250/108, 1065, 106

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,642,541 6/1953 Young 250/108 3,256,434 6/1966 Carver et a1. 2S0/106X 3.316.406 4/1967 Sauerwein et a1 r. 250/108X Primary Examiner-Ralph G. Nilson Assistant Examiner-Davis L. Willis Attorney- Lawrence E. Laubscher In my prior US. Pat. application Ser. No. 687,346 filed Dec. 1, 1967, apparatus is disclosed for handling and storing a radioactive element in a protected safe manner. In the prior apparatus, following withdrawal of the radioactive element into a bore contained in the radiation-shielding storage body, closure means were displaced automatically to prevent the escape of harmful radiation from the storage cavity.

One problem that presents itself in this art is that of providing different shielding and storage capabilities for different types, strengths and natures of radioactive sources. It is impractical to provide different storage containers for each type of source that might be encountered in practice and consequently it has been proposed, in accordance with the present invention, to provide container means designed to interchangeably house one of a plurality of differenbsized storage bodies into which the radioactive element is withdrawn.

Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention is to provide container means including a pair of spaced-end compartments between which is arranged a central compartment of given size, and means for rigidly supporting one of a plurality of different-sized radiation-shielding storage bodies in said central compartment. Means are provided for withdrawing into a cavity contained in the storage body a radioactive element originally contained in one of the end compartments, the central compartment housing the protective body being so dimensioned that the longitudinal length thereof is greater than the greatest length of the various sizes of storage bodies employed.

According to a more specific object of the invention, the storage body is secured at one end to a cylindrical support disc that in turn is mounted in a tubular body which extends between the end walls of the central compartment whereby the storage body is firmly mounted in an interchangeable manner.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification when considered in the light of the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the container means according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates the container means when a relatively small radioactive-shielding storage body is housed therein; and

FIG. 3 illustrates the container means when a relatively large storage body is housed therein.

Referring now to the drawings, the container means includes a central compartment, contained between a pair of end compartments 2 and 3 defined by parallel spaced plates 4, 5, 6 and 7 mounted on parallel longitudinally extending rods 8. The central compartment 1 is adapted to receive one of a plurality of interchangeable storage bodies (9, 15) which are formed of a radioactive shielding material, such as lead, and are of varying sizes in accordance with the strength arm nature of the radioactive element that is to be protectively housed therein. At one end the storage body is secured to a circular disc 10 (for example, by welds 9a and a, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) that is mounted within a tubular member 11 the ends of which extend into corresponding counterbored recesses contained in the plates 5 and 6. The circular disc 10, which has a diameter generally equal to the internal diameter of the tubular member 11, is fastened to the plate 6 by bolt means 12, whereby one end of the storage body is supported within the tubular member 11. At the other end, the storage body includes a stub shaft portion 13 that extends through a corresponding opening in plate 5 to support the other end of the storage body.

A tubular flexible member 14 extends through end chamber 7 2 and a bore contained in the storage body to define guide means through which operating means such as a cable (not shown) extends to withdraw the radioactive element carrier from end chamber 3 to a shielded position within the storage chamber cavit The openin of the storage body cavity may then be close by suitable c osure means 32. such as those disclosed in my prior application Ser. No. 687,346. The container is portable and may be carried by the handle means 40 on the end wall 7.

The invention offers the particular advantage that the container may be readily disassembled for interchangeability of the storage body. For example, to substitute the large storage body 15 of FIG. 3 for the smaller storage body 9 of FIG. 2, the plates 5 and 6 are disconnected from the housing and are separated by sliding plate 5 to the right on the rods 8, whereupon tubular member 11 is displaced to the right and bolts 12 are unfastened to release disc 10 from plate 6. The operating means 14 are then removed from the body 9, whereupon the larger body 15 is substituted therefore, and the apparatus is reassembled to the second configuration illustrated in FIG. 3, in which condition the body 15 generally completely fills the space within tubular member 11.

While in accordance with the provisions of the Patent Statutes I have illustrated and described the best form and embodiments of the invention known to me, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in the apparatus described without deviating from the invention set forth in the following claims.

Iclaim:

1. Container means for a radioactive element, comprising:

housing means defining a pair of spaced-end compartments and a central compartment between said end compartments;

a radiation-shielding storage body removably mounted longitudinally in said central compartment and containing a cavity having an opening facing and communicating with one of said end compartments;

operating means for withdrawing a radioactive element from said one compartment to a protected position within said cavity, said operating means extending from the other compartment into said central compartment;

closure means in said one compartment for closing said cavity opening when said radioactive element is withdrawn into said cavity, and

said central compartment having such a longitudinal dimension and being so designed that any one of a large number of different sized storage bodies may be interchangeable mounted therein.

2. Container means as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing means comprises a pair of parallel spaced plates defining the end of said central compartment, and further including a tubular member arranged concentrically about said storage body, the ends of said tubular member extending into and being supported by corresponding counterbored recesses contained in said spaced plates.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, and further including means for supporting said storage body in said central compartment, comprising a circular disc arranged in one end of said tubular member adjacent said one compartment, the central portion of said disc being secured to the adjacent end of said shielding body and containing a through passage in communication with said cavity opening, and means for releasably fastening said disc to the adjacent plate.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, and further wherein said support means includes a stub shaft extending longitudinally from said shielding body through a corresponding opening contained in the end plate between said central compartment and the other end compartment.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein the volume of the shielding body is generally equal to that contained within the tubular member.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein the volume of the shielding body is substantially less than that contained within the tubular member.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said end plates are mounted on rod means that extend normal thereto. 

1. Container means for a radioactive element, comprising: housing means defining a pair of spaced-end compartments and a central compartment between said end compartments; a radiation-shielding storage body removably mounted longitudinally in said central compartment and containing a cavity having an opening facing and communicating with one of said end compartments; operating means for withdrawing a radioactive element from said one compartment to a protected position within said cavity, said operating means extending from the other compartment into said central compartment; closure means in said one compartment for closing said cavity opening when said radioactive element is withdrawn into said cavity, and said central compartment having such a longitudinal dimension and being so designed that any one of a large number of different sized storage bodies may be interchangeable mounted therein.
 2. Container means as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing means comprises a pair of parallel spaced plates defining the end of said central compartment, and further including a tubular member arranged concentrically about said storage body, the ends of said tubular member extending into and being supported by corresponding counterbored recesses contained in said spaced plates.
 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, and further including means for supporting said storage body in said central compartment, comprising a circular disc arranged in one end of said tubular member adjacent said one compartment, the central portion of said disc being secured to the adjacent end oF said shielding body and containing a through passage in communication with said cavity opening, and means for releasably fastening said disc to the adjacent plate.
 4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, and further wherein said support means includes a stub shaft extending longitudinally from said shielding body through a corresponding opening contained in the end plate between said central compartment and the other end compartment.
 5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein the volume of the shielding body is generally equal to that contained within the tubular member.
 6. Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein the volume of the shielding body is substantially less than that contained within the tubular member.
 7. Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said end plates are mounted on rod means that extend normal thereto. 